An award-winning Shropshire caravan dealership is celebrating after being awarded approval in the National Caravan Council Approved Distributor Code of Practice.

Mark Bebb, managing director of Shrewsbury-based Salop Leisure, attended a formal presentation held at The Lawns in Cottingham, where he was presented with certification of their approved status by NCC vice chairman Colin Crewther.

The Approved Distributor scheme is one of three consumer focused initiatives developed and managed by the NCC to raise standards of professionalism and customer service across the holiday home, tourer and motorhome industry.

At the heart of each scheme is a Consumer Code of Practice establishing the benchmark for how an NCC member business should undertake all relations with its customer base.

In addition to helping distributors establish a framework for operating within the strict laws governing consumer rights, the scheme enables a company to demonstrate its commitment to dealing in a fair, open and honest way with customers. Each of the eight distributors successfully underwent a comprehensive independent assessment, which reviewed their operations against the code, which itself is modelled on Office of Fair Trading Consumer Code core criteria.

NCC Director General John Lally said: “Distributors make an important contribution to the industry given the role they play as an interface between holiday home parks and holiday home manufacturers. Meeting the code is a significant achievement and demonstrates each businesses professionalism and commitment to best practice.”

Mr Bebb said Salop Leisure was delighted to achieve the new code of practice and fully supported the Approved Distributor scheme to drive up standards in the caravan industry.

“Customer service has always been the top priority at Salop Leisure,” he added. “This NCC scheme will give customers added peace of mind that they are dealing with an accredited dealership.” Last year, Salop Leisure was named Practical Caravan magazine’s Caravan Dealer of the Year for 2012.